I was talking to my son about my dog, (I’ll have to get a photo of him), he’s old but he still barks good. I was saying that he would still defend out house.
My son laughed and said, “Anyone could disarm him with a Big Mac.”
And as much as I love my dog, I have to admit, on the terror scale, he isn’t much. He’s good as an alarm, but I don’t think anyone but the mailman ever made him angry.
So I thought I’d ask, could your dog (or cat or whatever) be disarmed by a prowler caring a hamburger?
My dog would be like “Wow a hamburger, OK I’ll shut up.” Then he’d want cuddles from the robber
I have three dogs. Any attempt by a miscreant to enter my premises via any door or window will set off a stage 4, red alert growling and barking frenzy that would wake the dead…
unless said miscreant is at the front door carrying a large flat box. Then he’d be welcomed as an old friend. (I swear my dogs can actually spell the word “Pizza”).
Don’t know whether it would work with a burger though.
Nope, at least not while at least one of us is at home. The dogs belonged to The Druidess prior to our marriage, and are especially protective of her, but now they accept me as part of their pack, too. Sometimes I wonder how the hell I’m going to get a clean shot at a hypothetical intruder while the dogs are attacking. On the upside, unless our hypothetical intruder is drugged out of his mind, he’s prolly going to haul ass when he sees/hears the dogs in full blown protection mode, so I won’t have to test my aim.
My terrier crossbarks ferociously at the door, but she is highly social and as long as the intruder wasn’t acting strangely (she’s also very sensitive to non-verbal cues) she’s accept the hamburger and want to be best friends.
The Labrador might be a bit concerned about a stranger, but being a Lab, he’d forget all concern if the stranger handed him a burger.
TheRottweiler, I’m not sure. He is still a puppy-ish teenager and also highly social and friendly; however he’s exhibited guardy behaviour since quite young (although he has never acted aggressively towards anyone, he puts up an impressive show at the fence or the door) so I don’t know how he’d react. About a month ago I left him in the van with the windows cracked about three inches, and came out to find two women sticking their hands into my van and petting him. So I suspect he’d take the hamburger, then get very pushy for more.
It wouldn’t work on mine. She’s unusuall blase about food, for a dog, and very protective. When friends come round, she’s usually OK, but occasionally reacts very strongly to them and has to be picked up and introduced to them slowly. My daughter did try distracting her with food (her favourite dog treats) one time and it didn’t work at all.
I have 2 Boxers. The female I could disarm with a piece of popcorn, let alone a hamburger. The male works himself into such a lather whenever a stranger is around that I doubt it’s possible.
My 2 Setters? Absoloutly. They are super friendly, and the male is VERY food oriented (Obsessed?). The female not so food oriented, but she loves people so much, food wouldn’t be necessary.
The 3 little dogs… I’m not really sure. Bunny is a little cautious with strangers. Sammy & Cricket are very friendly. I think a burger would just seal the deal for them.
Hell, you could probably buy a moment of Lilith’s affection with a jellybean. But I’m not absolutely certain…we’ll have to let someone test her.
I do know that when my brother stopped by one day and thought he’d just let himself in unannounced, she did not groove on it at all. Fortunately we got there in time.
I have two boxers as well but mine are the opposite. Mojo is a sucker for a treat, you can even buy his affection for a chunk of apple. Kaia on the other hand won’t eat anything unless she’s hungry. She’s the rare dog that has a bowl of food available all the time and doesn’t gain weight.
I’m not sure what would happen if I was home alone though - both dogs are convinced that I’m incapable of defending myself and that it’s their job.
A burger, maybe. Others have tried to give my dogs bits of food and treats to make friends with them but they universally refuse any food from strangers.
Someone coming around at night when I am asleep will not have time to hand them burgers (they will need 7) before Jack Russell hell is unleased.
You wouldn’t even need real popcorn for my dogs…just pretend to have popcorn. If you just act like you’re eating something they’ll immediately sit, rollover, lay down, spin around and do any other tricks they think might impress you.
And since it appears to be pictures you want… Scoutie after apparently having one to many drinks
and Bella
ETA, regarding vegetables: My dogs will come scattering across the linoleum from anywhere in the house if they hear you peeling vegetables. It doesn’t matter what you’re peeling, but you better toss a couple of peels onto the floor for them.
Hearing the rumble of the ice machine on the fridge has the same effect on my two. Kaia will disdain food but if you don’t share your ice with her you better not plan on sleeping anytime soon.
Tilly & Toby make a lot of noise when strangers arrive, and are extremely growly when they enter when no one’s home (the dog walker had a HELL of a time her first day). They’re excellent deterrents, but once inside, a friendly tone of voice and especially a hamburger changes their demeanor. Hell, you could win their loyalty with an ice cube!
